The Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025 amend the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, and as a result the current version of AS/NZS 3000:2018 is now the version referenced in the regulations. To bring Masterspec into line with this change, amendments have been made throughout all 7000 Series CBI electrical sections — Minor, Basic and Standard, as well as the Services group of electrical sections — so that references consistently align with AS/NZS 3000:2018 as amended by the Electricity (Safety) Regulations. As part of this work, the sections have also had a refresh, with formatting amendments made throughout to bring them into line with the standard Masterspec section format and to ensure consistency between the electrical sections.
A significant structural change is the removal of the clauses for Certified Design by Electrician or by Electrical Engineer. In their place, guidance notes have been added to define the scope of the Masterspec electrical sections, which align with AS/NZS 3000 Part 2 and are intended for electrical work that does not require a certified design.
The clauses covering Residual Current Devices (RCDs) have been amended to comply with AS/NZS 3000 as modified by the Electricity (Safety) Regulations. Type A RCDs remain the general-installation default, Type B RCDs are used for some EV charging applications, and Type F RCDs are used for detecting composite waveforms. Type S RCDs are not a requirement of AS/NZS 3000, but can still be used to provide additional protection against the initiation of fire caused by current leakage across insulation.
Switchboard clauses have also been amended. AS/NZS 3000 clause 2.10 requires switchboards to comply with either AS/NZS 3439 or the AS/NZS 61439 series; however, AS/NZS 3439 has been superseded by the AS/NZS 61439 series and its five-year transition period expired in 2021. Masterspec's switchboard clauses now refer only to the AS/NZS 61439 series accordingly. Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) to AS/NZS 3000 have now been included in the Basic, Standard and Services electrical sections, supported by additional guidance notes.
For recessed downlights, AS/NZS 3000 cites AS/NZS 60598.2.2:2016. Guidance notes have been added covering light fittings classified to the older AS/NZS 60598.2.2:2001, and the Masterspec clauses relating to insulation clearances to downlights have been removed from the electrical sections — this information is now covered by the INSULATION sections instead. As a general rule, recessed light fittings classified to AS/NZS 60598.2.2 should be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, or, where these are not available, in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 4246.
Masterspec's conduit clauses now refer to AS/NZS 61386.21 in addition to AS/NZS 2053.2, with AS/NZS 3000 Appendix N (Electrical Conduit) noted for further information. Guidance notes have also been added on two areas where a newer standard exists but is not yet formally cited: AS/NZS 3112:2017 for plugs and socket outlets is the version currently cited in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010, although AS/NZS 3112:2025 is now available; and AS 2293.1:2005 and AS 2293.3:2005 for emergency lighting are the versions currently cited by NZBC F6/AS1 and F8/AS1, although AS/NZS 2293.1:2026 and AS/NZS 2293.3:2026 are now available but not yet cited in the Building Code.
Summary of changes
- Amendments made to all Masterspec 7000 Series CBI Electrical sections (Minor, Basic, Standard and the Services group) to reflect the Electricity (Safety) Amendment Regulations 2025 and align references with AS/NZS 3000:2018 as amended by those regulations.
- General refresh of the sections, with formatting amendments made throughout to align with the standard Masterspec section format and improve consistency between the electrical sections.
- Removed the clauses for Certified Design by Electrician or by Electrical Engineer. Guidance notes added defining the scope of the Masterspec sections, which align with AS/NZS 3000 Part 2, for electrical work that does not require a certified design.
- Residual Current Device clauses amended to comply with AS/NZS 3000 as modified by the Electricity (Safety) Regulations: Type A for general installations, Type B for some EV charging applications, and Type F for detecting composite waveforms. Type S is not required by AS/NZS 3000 but can provide additional protection against fire initiation from current leakage across insulation.
- Switchboard clauses amended to refer only to the AS/NZS 61439 series, since AS/NZS 3439 (the alternative permitted under AS/NZS 3000, 2.10) has been superseded and its five-year transition period expired in 2021.
- Arc Fault Detection Devices (AFDDs) to AS/NZS 3000 now included in the Basic, Standard and Services Electrical sections, with additional guidance notes added.
- Guidance notes added for recessed downlights classified to the older AS/NZS 60598.2.2:2001 (AS/NZS 3000 cites AS/NZS 60598.2.2:2016). Clauses on insulation clearances to downlights removed from the electrical sections, which now refer to the INSULATION sections for this information; fittings are generally installed per manufacturer's instructions or, failing that, AS/NZS 3000 and AS/NZS 4246.
- Conduit clauses now refer to AS/NZS 61386.21, in addition to AS/NZS 2053.2, with AS/NZS 3000 Appendix N (Electrical Conduit) noted for further information.
- Guidance notes added regarding AS/NZS 3112:2017 for plugs and socket outlets, as cited in the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010; AS/NZS 3112:2025 is available but not yet cited in the regulations.
- Guidance notes added regarding AS 2293.1:2005 and AS 2293.3:2005 for emergency lighting, as cited by NZBC F6/AS1 and F8/AS1; AS/NZS 2293.1:2026 and AS/NZS 2293.3:2026 are available but not yet cited in the Building Code.